There Is Hostility From Kenyans Towards Mainstream Media, And We Have The Evidence…But Why?
Even as the squabbles between three powerful media houses and the Communication Authority of Kenya (CAK) continue, there is one story that remains untold to date, and it seems many of us do not want to speak about it. And this perhaps remains the greatest untold story.
The relationship between the mainstream media and majority of the keyboard judges is sour to say the least. This is evident from what has been going on in the social media lately.
The hatred got rekindled by the decision by The CAK to withdraw the license awarded to RMS, NMG and SMG to air digital content following a sponsored and aired content that warned consumers against buying GOTv and Startimes decorders to view their content.
The three media houses moved quickly to air their displeasure at the move which they feel is aimed at nipping them, and allowing foreign companies to run digital broadcasting in the country.
On their social media platforms, Citizen TV, KTN and NTV posted their displeasure, arguing their case out and promising to go to court to stop the move by CAK.
When such information is put on the social media, its sole purpose is to inform their viewers what is going on.
However, the responses that these posts got are a clear indication that there is cold blood between Kenyans and the mainstream media.
For instance, Citizen TV posted an editorial statement concerning the move by CAK, explaining to its viewers what happened and the steps they are planning to take. This is what they posted on their Facebook page:
“EDITORIAL MESSAGE: The decision by the Communications Authority of Kenya to withdraw the licencing authorization given to the Africa Digital Network, a consortium of the Royal Media Services, the Nation Media Group and the Standard Group, today must be condemned as a blatant and irresponsible abuse of responsibility by a public-funded entity. With a stroke of the pen, the regulator has taken the unprecedented decision to kill off Kenyan businesses funded through sweat and tears in order to protect the interests of two foreign companies CAK claims its action was informed by the media houses decision to sponsor and air an advertisement advising their viewers that these two foreign companies, StarTimes, a Chinese Company and Gotv a South African Company were airing the contents of the three broadcasters without consent, a clear infringement on intellectual property rights was an act of sabotage. Our positions is that is immoral and unjustifiable especially where Startimes and GoTV use the content we generate at our own expense to further financial profit motives. It is why we are asking viewers keen on accessing their content to wait for our custom-made set top boxes. This will also help enable us to own and safeguard the integrity of the content we make available to our viewers. We reiterate that we are not against digital migration. What we are fighting for is a level playing field where we will have an opportunity to compete fairly with others.”
The responses that Kenyans gave are a clear indication that there is hostility running deep down their minds. Here is a sample of them:
youll not find a chinese in a star times tent or a south african in j gotv tend along tom mboya,youll find kenyans working there…and we live on what we earn from them…so we quite our jobs and wait to retail your custom made one…hehe pathetic! – Felix Odhiambo Otieno Okombo
remember you are just 3 channels out of very many local channels and baite TV is not complaining then…….by the way bamba TV itamchapa kiboko – John Kanyi Muthoni
Will ua box only air the 3 channels? If yes how many boxes d’yu want us to buy? If not, will u also not b infringing on other ppl’s intellectual rights? Stop this hypocrisy and chest thumping. I sapot CAK’s decision fully. – Pasta Muthee Ojigbani
In fact the three media houses should be taken off air.For the ten years they have dominated the airwaves, THEY HAVE HAD UTTERLY NOTHING positive about this nation to report.The only thing they have is what a failure Kenya is. They have no interests of this nation at heart. These three entities are so unscrupulous they could actually sell this nation to its worst enemy.They are but business of opportunists who have nothing to care but their profits.All they sell is tribal and cheap political propaganda for the highest bidder.While CNN reports everything in terms of “THE INTERESTS OF THE UNITED STATES””, the three media houses that Kibaki Government created in the last ten years have nothing positive to wish this nation.All they care about is sales. This nation has given them what they have.This country made NTV Kenya, Citizen TV Kenya and KTN Kenya what they are today.That they have totally NOTHING to report positively is a big shame and they should actually be taken off air! –
These main stations have been reluctant to migrate to digital from the word go. Why? They were controlling about 70% of the market share, hence advertising revenue. Before, it was very difficult to do broadcasting due to the capital intensive infrastructure, which acts as a barrier to entry. Now, all you need is quality content and pay for its transmission by the carriers. No wonder since digital migration, the number of Tv stations have more than trippled. The game has changed, old rules cant work – Samwel Kimata
You are the ones trying to take Kenya Behind by propagating for Unhealthy Competition…If you know that your set boxes will be good, Why did you advertise against those of others, Which we view as misuse of Media space – Kiplangat Kirui Mteule
NTV Kenya posted this:
Digital Migration: CAK vs Broadcasters, mainstream broadcasters targeted by CAK in migration row
And the responses they got included these:
you people are so ridiculous you haven’t sent applications on supposedly decoders and none approved by CAK and there you are wasting money and effort fighting your competitors.i thought i told you to swallow your pride and wait till your decoders are out.and hey next time don’t take matters in your own hand rest someone claim for rights.now your licenses are revoked back to court – Esther Wakonyu
Reading the statement AS RELEASED BY CAK and NOT as reported on your “news”, you are actually CRIMINALS, a cartel no different from those that launder money and deal drugs.HOW DO YOU PROHIBIT THE NATION FROM BUYING DECODERS FROM OTHER COMPANIES AND “ADVICE” THAT the country waits for you to “launch your own” decoders which have not even been tested or approved???Like, why would you do that??WHY USE ALL THESE UNCOUTH MEANS TO FIGHT CHANGE??Is it just so u may remain relevant??Setting the agenda for our country ON YOUR TERMS??Like this morning when Debal asked MP Kimani about “Buy Kenya Build Kenya Mantra”, do you know why that was irritating???BECAUSE IN FACT, THE THREE MEDIA HOUSES WE HAVE HAD IN KENYA THE LAST TEN YEARS HAVE BEEN SELLING KENYA TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER, – Mwaz Jeff
No one is targeting you… you have been cheating us alot in your advert and even yesterday you repeated lies to kenyans that GOTV and Startimes are not Free to Air yet since i Bought my GOTV i don’t pay any subscription.. – Alex Mwangi
Ili mshike adabu na adabu iwashike mtaona mengi kwanza ii ujinga ya kundanganya wakenya kaa mafala mtaona moto njata tv ni lazima tuwatch izo masoaps na naija muvis matawatch peke yenu – Mike Tha Montechristo
KTN also put up their argument. They said:
Why media owners refute claims that the advert against GO-TV and Startimes was misleading
Kenyans responded by saying:
MyDecorderMyChoice. – Joe Leo
There is a mature way of business compétition,but not misleading people,the decordes were bn advirtise in their stations en they were paid for the advert,hence the best they culd do is launch their decorder in peace,en lets décide wht to go for. Free is not always the best anyway. – Margaret Kagoro
Pls KTN, NTV, and citizen, stop fooling kenyans.ur frequency is free to air! Unless free has another meaning. So if u bring ur set top boxes, kenyans will discard the ones they have just to get it? We know better that u r in business and want to spoil for others!! – Lynn Muguongo
#MyDecoderMyChoice KTN,NTV,CITIZEN and QTV i believe its selfish of them to ask Kenyans not to buy Star times andGOtv Kenya so that they could come and sell their own decoders.I believe all the decoders are suppose to air all the channels so as Kenyans we can choose who to buy from unless they will give them freely. We supported your case to get licensed, but if this is why you wanted to get licensed then its the high time the government took the licence away we support that. – Paul Kamau Muchiri
Instead of wasting time and resources in courts, while attacking gotv and startimes maliciously, mngeintroduce your setboxes kitaambo! Borrow a leaf from kisstv (radio africa) which introduced bambatv without wasting time and money! – Douglas Orare
you are wasting your carolies for nothing,you could have come up with the idea long ago before they started.we are not orphan in this issue, let us continue pay for competent service…hatutaki za msaada pliz – Benson Irungu
